Portraits of Dan Brouthers are exceptionally rare. This is simply a case of having struggled to make a card out of a particularly difficult image, only to find a better image later. This card is now an outtake and has been replaced by another.

Joseph P. Crotty (1860-1926) was a catcher in two leagues: the American and Union Associations. He was in these organizations with 4 clubs from 1882 to 1886. Before, during and after these years in the “major leagues,” Crotty floated among numerous minor league franchises including the Sioux City Corn Huskers in whose uniform he appeared in the Old Judge series for 1889. A journeyman receiver, Crotty had a typically anemic batting average (.170 in MLB) but fared 100 points higher when in the lower echelons. His career did allow him to see the country: as far east as Syracuse, south to Jackson and west to Helena. Joe’s initial year, 1882, was also a year of firsts for his two clubs. He began in Louisville with the new Eclipse squad and then was picked up by Chris von der Ahe’s St. Louis Brown Stockings. This enabled him to be present at the creation of the Cardinals as the controversial owner brought the team into the American Association.

Joe’s other ML clubs were the Cincinnati Outlaw Reds and the NY Metropolitans

The Reds played in the UA’s only season, 1884, affording Crotty another chance to make a kind of history

I misidentified the player in this image as Mike Dorgan, when it is actually Pat Deasley. They do look alike! This error card was created, released and sold one time. With apologies, I created corrected Dorgan & Deasley cards and gifted the pair to the buyer. All future issues of both Dorgan & Deasley will be the corrected versions.

Clark Calvin Griffith (1869-1955) was a successful pitcher for over 20 years but had only just begun his baseball career. AL founder Ban Johnson prevailed on Griffith to take the helm of the NY entry into the new league in 1903. That began a tenure as manager and owner that lasted until Griffith’s death in 1955. With a showman’s touch and a veteran player’s savvy, Griffith turned around the D.C. franchise.

Only one in history to be a player, manager and owner for over 20 years in each role

Counted eight U.S. presidents as friends during his long tenure as owner of the Senators

Michael J. Hughes (1866-1931) got 25 of his three-year career total 39 wins for the Brooklyn Bridegrooms in his rookie season, 1888. That performance earned Hughes the opening day start for Brooklyn in 1889 but he fell to a lackluster 9-8 record that year. Hughes was traded to the Athletics in 1890, finishing his brief ML tenure going 1-3 in six games.

In Brooklyn’s final year in the American Association, Hughes went 1-0 in the 1889 Series against the NY Giants, won by NY 6 games to 3

Portraits of Arthur Irwin are rare. This is simply a case of having struggled to make a card out of a particularly difficult image, only to find a better image later. This card is now an outtake and has been replaced by another.

Portraits of Sam Thompson are exceptionally rare. This is simply a case of having struggled to make a card out of a particularly difficult image, only to find a better image later. This card is now an outtake and has been replaced by another.

I made this card before I had clearly defined the parameters within which images would be used for each Ars Longa series. This image is actually an Old Judge image and I would greatly prefer to reassign it to the 1880s series. This particular card is now retired and I will likely replace it in this series with a different (but still excellent) image of Mr. Watkins.